It’ll be baptism by fire for Ottawa Senators defenceman Donovan Sebrango on Thursday night. Sebrango will make his NHL debut, jumping right into the heat of the NHL Eastern playoff chase. Not only will it happen in his hometown, with family and friends cheering him on, it will be against Alex Ovechkin and the league-leading Washington Capitals.

Acquired by the Ottawa organization as part of the trade that sent Alex DeBrincat to the Red Wings in July 2023, Sebrango welcomed a fresh start. He suited up for 35 games in his first season with Belleville, plus for four games with the ECHL’s Allentown Americans.

When Donovan Sebrango hit the ice at Canadian Tire Centre to take a solo "rookie lap" before his NHL debut Thursday, he had three things on his mind: "Don't fall and don't miss the puck ... and look up and find your mom.

Belleville Senators forward Tyler Boucher, Brantford Bulldogs 20-year-old Tomas Hamara (who is signed) and big Finnish defenseman Eerik Wallenius were also considered for the fourth tier and are comparable prospects to the final four players ranked.

Former Kitchener Rangers defenceman Donovan Sebrango made his NHL debut with the Ottawa Senators Thursday night.

Ottawa native Donovan Sebrango suits up for his first NHL game tonight in his hometown with his family watching him from the front row. It doesn’t get much better than that, does it? The big defenseman took to the ice before the rest of his team for his customary ‘rookie lap’ with

Ottawa Senators rookie Donovan Sebrango was with his team at the Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday as he prepared to make his NHL debut against the Washington Capitals. Prior to puck drop, as is commonplace for any rookie making their first appearance in the league,